Voice recording systems with plural input stations



A ril 2, 1968 s. D. LE BARRE 3,376,552

VOICE RECORDING SYSTEMS WITH PLURAL INPUT STATIONS Original Filed July21, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I j/zz *7 -7i17 l .E. E Mm,

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BY y xv rwwvznsf A ril 2, 1968 Original Filed July 2-1, 1959 UnitedStates Patent Ofiice 3,376,552 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 3,376,552 VOICERECORDXNG SYSTEMS WITH PLURAL INPUT STATIONS Stuart David Le Barre,14021 Lincoln, Oak Park, Mich. 48237 Continuation of application Ser.No. 828,645, July 21, 1959. This application Feb. 23, 1965, Ser. No.440,342

1 Claim. (Cl. 340172.5)

This invention relates to a system for the recording of intelligencereceived from a plurality of sources and for programming the recordationand is a continuation of my ccgmpending application Ser. No. 828,645,filed July 21, 1 9.

In order to maintain close cost and production control over, forexample, operation of a plurality of machine tools, it is often desiredto provide a record of the time expended on each machine tool operationby the individual machine tool operators. Preferably, for purposes ofefficiency, this time keeping function is centralized.

The system of the present invention provides for the relativelyefficient transmission of data from a plurality of outlying stationslocated, for example, adjacent each machine tool for which such recordsare to be kept, for recording at a central console. The recording mediumbecomes the means of storing the intelligence transmitted. The systemautomatically provides for the positive control of any number of suchstations by a lesser number of relay banks, each of which accommodates,in the exemplary system described hereinafter, five stations. Each relaybank has a recording device associated therewith. The relay banksfunction to both control the input of intelligence from the machine toolstations associated therewith so that only one station is capable oftransmitting intelligence at one time and also provide for a pluralityof auxiliary circuits so as to facilitate oral communication, visual andaudio signaling, positive visual and audio indication of recorderfailure, and automatic switching of intelligence between a defectiverecorder and a stand-by recorder.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a systemfor controlling the centralized recordation of intelligence from aplurality of dispersed sources.

Another object is to provide a system for the recording of intelligencehaving primary and secondary recording devices and means forautomatically switching therebetween.

Another object is to provide a system for controlling the recording ofintelligence from a plurality of sources comprising primary andsecondary recording devices,

transfer means for switching intelligence from the secondary to theprimary recording device upon the initiation of operation of the primarydevice, means connected to the transfer means and to the intelligencesources for automatically relaying intelligence from one of the sourcesto the transfer means and means for locking out i the remaining sourceswhile the one source is in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description wherein reference is made to thedrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 shows, in diagrammatic form, a recording device, a transferswitch, a power supply, and a chime drive circuit;

FIG. 2 shows, in diagrammatic form, a pair of relay banks and a chimecontrol circuit; and

FIG. 3 shows, in diagrammatic form, a call station, a relay bank andaccessory circuit related thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings which are to be arrangedin side by side sequential relation, an exemplary embodiment of aprogram system in accordance with the present invention comprises aplurality of call stations SAl through SAS, SBl through SBS, and SClthrough 5C5, one of which (5A1) is shown in detail. The

components and operation of the call station SA1 will be described indetail, it being understood that the remaining call stations aresimilarly constituted and function in a like manner. The call stationsare connected in circuit with an appropriate number of relay gangs RA,RB and RC. In the embodiment illustrated, five call stations areconnected to each relay gang, for example, the A, B and C series of callstations are connected to relay gangs RA, RB, and RC, respectively. Eachof the relay gangs RA, RB, and RC is connected through a transfer switchTSA, TSB, and TSC, respectively, to a recording device, for example atape recorder, TR-A, TRB, and TR-C, respectively. A transfer switch TS-Sand tape recorder TR-S are provided in operative association on astand-by status with the relay stations RA, RB, and RC so as to beconnected thereto at such time as the primary recorder associatedtherewith fails, as will be described.

A power supply is provided for the program system comprising preferablya 110 V. AC. source, a 24 v. A.C. source, and a 24 V. DC. source.

The components of the program system other than the fifteen callstations SAl through SA5, SBl through 835, and SCI through SCS, whichare located, for example, at outlying positions within a manufacturingfacility, are located at a central control point. As will be apparentfrom the following description, all connections between the outlyingstations and the components of the program system at the control consoleare low voltage connections, thus facilitating the installation andmaintenance of the system and reclucin g the cost thereof.

The transmission of information from an outlying station SAl to thecontrol console for recording is initiated by lifting, for example, aconventional telephone receiver off its hook, thereby closing a switchhook it Closure of the contact 10 closes a circuit from the positiveside of the 24 V. DC. source through a conductor 100, relay RAl,conductor 101, switch hook contact 10, the normally closed contact 11 ofa switch 12 to ground, thereby energizing the relay RAl. Uponenergization, the relay RA1 closes a contact 15 thereby completing acircuit from the 24 V. DC. source, through the conductor 1%, contact 15,conductor 102, to a terminal 16 and normally closed contact 18 of atransfer switch TSA thereby completing a circuit through a transferswitch relay TSRA1 to ground. The above circuit also energizes a pair ofstandby transfer switch relays TSR-Sl and TSR-SZ. The effect of theenergization of the relays TSR-Al, TSR-Sl and TSR-S2 will be discussedhereinafter. Relay RAl, upon energization, also closes a contact 20completing a lock-out circuit from one side of the 110 V. AC. source,through a conductor 3104, contact 20', contacts 21, 22, 23, and 24 ofrelays RA7, R-A8, R-A9 and R-Altl, respectively, through relay RA6 andconductor 195 to the other side of the 110 V. AC. source. Energizationof the relay RA6 opens contacts 25, 26, 27 and 28 thereby locking outrelays RA2, RA3, RA4, and RAS. The effect of the lock-out circuit on theprogram system 10 is to prevent more than one station from transmitingintelligence to the recording device at one time. It will be seen frominspection of the wiring diagram that energization of any one of therelays R-Al, R-AZ, R-A3, R-A4, and R-A5 and the lock-out relay R-A6,R-A7, R-Ati, RA, or RA10 associated therewith, respectively, locks outthe non-energized relays, preventing their subsequent energization untilthe relay initially energized is de-energized.

Energization of the relay RAI also closes contact 20 to complete acircuit from 110 V. AC. source through conductor 104, contact 20,contacts 21, 22, 23, and 24, and relay RA11 to conductor to the otherside of the V. AC. source. Energization of the relay RA11 closes contact30 completing an indicator light circuit from the positive side of the24 V. DC. source through conductor 100, through conductor 106 into thetransfer switch TSA, to contact 31 therein, and, upon energization ofthe tranfer switch relay TSRAI through contact 31, terminal 32,conductor 108, contact 30, conductor 109, and green indicator light (G)to ground. Energization of the relay RAll also completes a similar 24 v.D.C. circuit to the contact then upwardly through a panel indicatinglight (PL) through conductor 103 to ground. The panel light (PL) givesvisual indication at the control console that a particular station istransmitting intelligence through the recording system and the geenlight (G) at the station indicates that the system is capable ofaccepting the intelligence transmitted.

Energization of the relay RA11 also closes contact 40, completing acircuit from the positive side of the 24 v. D.C. source throughconductor 100, contact 40, relay RA16, and conductor 103 to ground.Energization of relay RA16 closes contact 50, completing a circuit fromthe positive side of the 24 v. D.C. source through conductor 100,contact 50, conductor 110, to red light (R) then to ground. Thus, redindicator light (R) is energized immediately upon closing the switchhook contact 10, the green indicator light being energized only after arecording device TRA commences operation, as will be described.

Energization of relay RA16 also closes contact 60, completing a circuitfrom the positive side of the 24 v. D.C. source through conductor 100,contact 60, conductor 111, relay TSR-AZ to ground. Energization of therelay TSR-A2 starts the recorder TRA in operation, as will be discussed.

Energization of relay RA16 also closes contacts and 71 therebycompleting a microphone circuit from terminals 72 and 74 of a recorderjack RJ-A, through a pair of switches 75 and 76, through conductors and116, contacts 70 and 71, conductors 118 and 119, switches 78 and 69,conductors and '121, to a microphone (MIC).

When an attendant at the control console wishes to attract the attentionof, for example, a machine tool operator at an outlying station SA1, theattendant rotates a movable finger 82 on a multi-position switch 83having a plurality of contacts 84 thereon until the finger 82 makescontact with the contact 84 of a desired circuit. The attendant thenpushes a button 85, closing a circuit through the secondary of atransformer 86, push-button 85, finger 82, contacts 84, conductor 127,through a signal 87, through a conductor 128, to the other side of thesecondary of the transformer 86.

When a party at the outlying station S-Al desires to attract theattention of an attendant at the control console, to initiate an oralconversation, the party reverses the switch 12, closing a chime circuitfrom the 24 v. D.C. source through conductor 100, conductor 129, chimerelay CRAl, conductor 130, and contact 88 of switch 12 to ground.

Energization of relay CRAl closes contact 89, completing a chime circuitfrom the 24 v. D.C. source through conductor 100, conductor 129, contact89, conductor 131, normally closed push-button 90, conductor 132, andconductor 103 to ground. The attendant can open the chime circuit byopening the push-button 90.

Energization of relay CRA1 also closes contact 91, completing a circuitfrom one side of the 110 v. A.C. source through conductor 103, conductor133, contact 91, conductor 134, through chime motor coil 92, conductor135, conductor 104 to the other side of the 110 v. A.C. source. Thus, itwill be seen that closure of contact 91 completes a circuit through thechime motor circuit 92 thereby energizing motor 92 to drive a pair ofcams 93 and 94 having lobs angularly displaced from one another so as toopen a pair of switches 95 and 96 in a predetermined sequence. Cam 93opens and closes the switch 95, completing a circuit through thesecondary of a chime transformer 97, chime coil 98 to ring a chime 99.The

cam 94 is so related to the cam 93 that it closes the switch 96 prior toclosure of the switch 95, thereby to place coil 98 is broken before thechime motor 92 is de-ener-. gized to insure that the chime coil 98 isnot left in the.

energized condition.

An oral inter-communication system (IC) is provided so that an attendantat the control console may converse with a party at the outlying stationS-Al. The attendant first signals the party with the buzzer in a mannerdiscussed hereinbefore. The attendant then throws the switches 78 and 79to the IC position, thus taking the microphone MIC out of the recordercircuit and putting it into the inter-communication circuit. Movement ofthe switches 78 and 79 closes a pair of switches 80 and 81, therebycompleting a microphone circuit from the station SAl through conductors120 and 121 and a receiving circuit through conductors 125 and 126. Whenthe attendant at the control console completes his conversation with theparty at the station SA1, the switches 78 and 79, 80 and 81 arereversed, thus shorting the station receiver circuit and switching thestation microphone circuit into the program system.

Energization of the relay CRAI also closes a contact 200 completing acircuit from the 6 v. A.C. secondary of a transformer 201 through aconductor 136, contact 200, indicator light 202, conductor 137 to theother side of the secondary of the transformer 201. Energization of thelight 202 gives a visual indication that a party at the station SAl isdesirous of orally communicating with the attendant at the controlconsole.

The outlying station SA1 is provided with a lock, preferably of the24-hour type, that is permanently connected in circuit with the 24 v.A.C. secondary of a transformer 205, conductors 138 and 139, and astep-up transformer 206. The step-down transformer 205 and step-uptransformer 206 are provided for the clock circuit so as to require onlya 24-volt wire between the station SA1 and the control console.

Operation of the recorder TRA is initiated by the transfer switch relayT SR-A2 upon closing of the contact 60 of the relay RA16. The transferswitch relay TSR-A2 opens a normally closed contact 210, thereby openinga normally closed circuit through a starting solenoid 211 and a recorderrelay TR-Rl, a power supply 212 and the contact 210. The normallyenergized relay TRR1, upon de-energization, allows a contact 214 toclose, thereby completing a circuit from the one side of the 110 v. A.C.source through the contact 214, through a motor winding 215 and recorderrelay TR-R2 to the other side of the 110 v. A.C. source. Uponenergization, the relay TR-RZ closes a normally open contact 216,completing a circuit from the 24 v. D.C. source through the contact 216to the transfer switch relay TSR-A1. Energization of the transfer switchrelay TSR-Al opens the contact 18, thus de-energizing the stand-bytransfer switch relays TSR-Sl and TSR-S2. Thus it will be seen that thestand-by recorder TR-S is energized until such time as the primary taperecorder TR-A is energized and in operation.

The transfer switch relay TSR-Al also closes a pair of contacts 220 and221, thereby completing a microphone circuit from the terminals 72 and74 of the transfer switch.

TS-A to the recorder TR-A, and opening the microphone circuit leading tothe stand-by recorder TR-S.

If for some reason the recorder TR-A draws too much current, a fuse 225blows, thereby energizing a normally short-circuited relay TR-R3 whichcloses a contact 226, completing an alarm circuit from a 6 v. A.C.source through an alarm 227 through the contact. 226 to the other sideof the 6 v. A.C. source. A visual signal is given upon blowing of thefuse 225 by a pilot light 228 on the recorder TR-A.

An example of the operation of the program system, the sequence ofevents upon energization of the system from an outlying call stationwill be traced. Assuming that the party at the outlying station desiresto record information, he picks up a receiver, for example, aconventional telephone receiver, thereby closing the switch hook contactand energizing the relay R-Al. Energization of the relay R-Al closescontact and energizes transfer switch relays TSR-S1 and TSR-S2, therebyinitiating operation of the standby recorder TRS in a manner similar tothe energization of the recorder TR-A discussed hereinbefore.Energization of the relay R-Al also closes contact 20, thereby lockingout the call stations S-A2, SA3, SA4, and SA5. Closure of the contactalso energizes relay R-All, thereby closing contact and, uponenergization of the transfer switch delay TSR-Al, the green indicatorlight circuit. Energization of the relay R-All also closes contact 40,thereby energizing relay RA16. Energization of relay R-A16 closescontact thereby energizing the red indicator lights on each of thestations S-Al through S-AS. The relay R-A16 also closes a contact 60,there-by energizing the transfer switch relay TSR-A2 to close thecontact 210 and initiating operation of the recorder TR-A as discussedhereinbefore. The relay RA16 also closes the contacts and 71, completinga microphone circuit from the station SA1 to the recorder TR A throughthe contacts 220 and 221 which were closed upon energization of thetransfer switch relay TSR-Al, thereby placing the system in conditionfor the recording of intelligence from the station S-Al.

While it will be apparent that the embodiments of the invention hereindisclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention,it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claim.

6 I claim: 1. A system for recording verbal conversation at a centralstation from a plurality of remote sources comprising:

a plurality of primary recording devices, a secondary recording device,means at each of said remote sources for energizing and conditioningsaid primary and secondary recording devices for the reception ofintelligence, means for routing said verbal conversation to saidsecondary recording device, transfer means for sensing the condition ofsaid primary recording devices prior to recording of said verbalinformation on said secondary recording device, means for switching fromthe secondary recording device to one of said primary recording devicesupon the availability and commencement of operation of any one of saidprimary recording de vices, means for locking out the remaining remotesources while one of said remote sources is in operation,

indicator means at said central station and at each of said remotesources for indicating the condition of the recording system,

an oral communication connection extending between each of said remotesources and said central station, and

indicator means at each of said remote sources and said central stationfor indicating the condition of said oral communication system.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1941 Blanton et al. 1786.66/1961 Everett et al 340-174.1

1. A SYSTEM FOR RECORDING VERBAL CONVERSATION AT A CENTRAL STATION FROMA PLURALITY OF REMOTE SOURCES COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF PRIMARYRECORDING DEVICES, A SECONDARY RECORDINNG DEVICE, MEANS AT EACH OF SAIDREMOTE SOURCES FOR ENERGIZING AND CONDITIONING SAID PRIMARY ANDSECONDARY RECORDING DEVICES FOR THE RECEPTION OF INTELLIGENCE, MEANS FORROUTING SAID VERBAL CONVERSATION TO SAID SECONDARY RECORDING DEVICE,TRANSFER MEANS FOR SENSING THE CONDITION OF SAID PRIMARY RECORDINGDEVICES PRIOR TO RECORDING OF SAID VERBAL INFORMATION ON SAID SECONDARYRECORDING DEVICE, MEANS FOR SWITCHING FROM THE SECONDARY RECORDINGDEVICE TO ONE OF SAID PRIMARY RECORDING DEVICES UPON THE AVAILABILITYAND COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATION OF ANY ONE OF SAID PRIMARY RECORDINGDEVICES,